Rules and Regulations
- An athlete is given three chances per event in discus throw, javelin throw, high jump and shop put events.
- The initial height in high jump and pole vault events is set by the International Association of Athletics or the IAAF experts.
- The 110 meter hurdle event is usually held in adjacent lanes.
- Athletes are barred from obstructing fellow athletes. At the commitment of the offence his points are detected. If the offence is a serious one, he is disqualified.
- An interval must be provided between two events. Usually, at the Olympics, the interval provided is of 30 minutes.
- A point table has to be maintained to score the athletes' performances in the ten events.
- Winner of decathlon is the athlete who has accumulated most point in the event.
- For decathlon event, an athlete has to participate in all the ten events. If an athlete does not play in any of the event, he is disqualified.
- IAAF approved timing devices should be used for measurement of time.
- A steel tape is used to take measurement in javelin throw, discus and shot put events.
Players of the United States have been dominating in the event of decathlon.
Top Performers
Athletes excelling in the decathlon event at the Olympics are Christian Schenk, Daley Thompson, Bruce Jenner, Nikolai Viktorovich Avilov, Bill Toomey, Willi Holdorf, Roman Sebrle, Erki Nool, Paavo Yrjola, Tomas Dvorak, Harold Osborn, Helge Lovland, Jim Thorpe, Dan O'Brien, Robert Zmelik, Rafer Johnson, Milt Campbell, Bob Mathias, Bryan Clay, Glenn Morris, James Bausch and Siegfried Wentz.